Martha: Could She Have Had a Deal to Avoid Jail?
Posted on Mon Mar 08, 2004 at 05:14:26 AM EST
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The new issue of Newsweek has several articles on Martha Stewart's conviction. One discloses that Martha turned down two deals , including one in April, 2003 which would have allowed for, but not guaranteed, a non-jail sentence.
Had she admitted wrongdoing in early 2002, she could have gotten off with a $200,000 fine and no jail time. And NEWSWEEK has learned that the Feds gave Martha another opportunity to avoid prison. Federal prosecutors offered Martha a deal last April to cop to one count of making a false statement, say several sources familiar with the offer. She would have received probation and continued working at her company, they say. But Martha refused to plead guilty to a felony, and a defense source says the Feds couldn't guarantee she'd stay out of jail.
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